MSc Students
Havva Homak
Havva received her bachelor’s in molecular biology and genetics in the Department of Biology in Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). She joined Immuno Lab as a special project student and is now continuing her Master’s. She is interested in epigenetic mechanisms in cellular innate immunology and tumor immunology. She thinks a better understanding of the co-evolution of endogenous retroviruses and innate immune receptors will make the innate immune system fight against diseases like cancer. She enjoys outdoor walking, especially in Eymir. Nowadays, she does Whin chun.
Damla Güvenç
Damla is an undergraduate senior student in Biology major in the Department of Biological Sciences at Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). She is a part of the lab as a special project student. She is captivated by the intricate interplay between genetics, molecular biology, and the immune system. She is eager to delve into how genetic makeup influences the behavior and functions of our immune cells. Unraveling these genetic pathways could unveil why certain individuals are more susceptible to diseases while others possess inherent resilience and thus, she wants to explore how these connections might offer profound insights into developing tailored therapies that could cure infections and diseases like cancer. She is also interested in age-related studies and how the immune system is affected by age-dependent manners. She enjoys drawing, doing yoga, and playing tennis in her free time.
Ezgi Karaman
Ezgisu studied molecular biology and genetics at Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey) and began her Master’s degree in the lab where she initially joined as a special project student. She focuses on the innate immune response, particularly trained immunity, and is intrigued by the regulation of innate immune response at the organelle level. Ezgisu is dedicated to uncovering the mechanisms behind these processes, aiming to contribute to the development of innovative therapies and vaccine research for various diseases.
Outside the lab, Ezgisu enjoys watercolor painting and finds great joy in spending time with her family and friends, who motivate her to pursue her goals with passion and determination.
Elif Edanur Balçık
Eda is currently a senior student in the Biology department of Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). She is a part of the lab as a special project student in which she studies trained immunity. She studied molecular cloning, gene expression, and genetic switches during her internship at UCLouvain, and her interest in the genetic background of autoimmune diseases, the pathways of the immune system, and how to use these pathways to trigger an immunity response in these diseases brought her to the Host Microbe İnteraction Lab. She also enjoys hiking and tries to develop herself in pottery.
Undergraduate Students
Buse Duru Aras (MSc in IBG, İzmir, Turkey)
Buğra Emanet (MSc in LMU, Germany)
Hala Abu Ghazaleh
Rozhan Ghobadimoghaddam
Sude Badur
Doğay Belen – (MSc in METU, Ankara, Turkey)
Rumeysa Öz